by Bruce Feustel
A Google search of "legislative town hall meetings" produces over a million hits, revealing gatherings in Alaska, Florida, Maine, Hawaii and all points in between. With all the negative publicity over disruptive or unruly behavior at these meetings, it's good to know that this important traditional forum continues. At their best, town hall meetings offer legislators and their constituents a chance to talk freely, exchange critical information, put legislators in a position to make better decisions and give those constituents a stronger connection to and belief in their government. But what is really happening at town halls lately? Are changes occurring or are we just reacting to a few high profile incidents?
NCSL's Legislative Effectiveness Committee periodically studies the town hall to help legislators better communicate with their constituents. In past years the committee has used trainers and veteran legislators to coach fellow lawmakers to improve the quality of their constituent meetings. For example, in April 2008, long-time Iowa consultant Frank Spillers helped legislators learn the kinds of questions to ask at town halls to promote deliberative dialogue on the personal impact of policy choices on constituents, values, trade-offs, tensions and common ground.
This year the committee officers, led by Arkansas Speaker Robbie Wills and Alaska House staff director Tom Wright, are gathering information about how town hall meetings are changing and what legislators need to know to meet the challenge.
Here's a comment from Oregon Senator Doug Whitsett:
We attempt to listen and to understand what our constituents are saying, and to understand what concerns them at town hall meetings. We do not go in with an agenda, but rather allow those attending to express their thoughts and ask questions. We attempt to answer those questions as directly as we are able to answer. We have not had town halls disrupted; however, constituents are becoming more assertive, more assertive in expecting specific informed answers to specific informed questions. They are aware of my voting record and ask for my reasoning in voting the way that I do.
This rise in assertiveness may be a bit unsettling, but Senator Whitsett embraces it and hopefully others will, too.
Please share any recent experiences with town hall meetings, either as a convener or a participant, in the comments link below.
Photo credit: Washington State Senator Derek Kilmer and Representative Larry Seacrest